Dwight Ball named Liberal Party leader

Dwight Ball will assume his new job as leader of the provincial Liberal Party on Jan. 3, 2012. — Telegram file photo

The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador has announced that Humber Valley MHA Dwight Ball has been chosen by the party's executive board to serve as its next leader.

According to a news release issued by the party, the executive board met Wednesday evening to accept the resignation of Kevin Aylward, who led the party to win six seats in the fall election, and to select Ball as the new leader.

Party president Judy Morrow said the board's decision was unanimous.

"Mr. Ball is a tremendously successful businessman and active community volunteer who brings a wealth of knowledge, business acumen and leadership experience to the job," she said in the news release. "I look forward to working with him in the future as we continue to grow and renew the party and offer an alternative to the current government."

Ball will assume his duties as the Leader of the Official Opposition on Jan. 3, 2012.

Ball won his seat for the second time in the October general election, having first been elected in a byelection vote in 2007.

He lost the seat later that year to Progressive Conservative candidate Darryl Kelly. Ball went on to defeat Kelly in this year's election in a tight race, winning by less than 100 votes.

Born and raised in Deer Lake, Ball has owned a pharmacy and a senior's complex in the community. He is a former president of the Canadian Pharmacists Association and the Deer Lake Chamber of Commerce. Ball has also served on the board of directors for the Deer Lake Airport Authority.

Comments

Comments

Your name*Email*Comment*

Recent comments

Frank M

December 15, 2011 - 09:38

In the interest of transparency, the Liberal Party issued 2 releases last night announcing Mr. Ball as leader because the first release omitted the term "Interim" leader, which is what he is. Another staff mistake at a time when they really need to get their collective act together.

What a same old same old story new blood with a vision that can appeal to the public The likes of Bennet,Jones etc with the same old ideas of being critical of everything doesn`t cut it anymore and to hear mr bennet critizing the marystown situation with not one word of support for the people of fortune who seems to be on their own fighting their union and people such as bennet I think the time is here to support these people who has had their fair share of hardships over the years jsut because the name of their town is not marystown.Marystown has had more than their share of government handouts over the years with the shipyard

Mr. Ball is in a unique position in that he and the Liberal Party have nowhere to go but up. However, if they wish to establish any credibility with the electorate, he needs to assert himself and rescind the appointment of Mr. Kelvin Parsons. I have nothing against Mr. Parsons and the fact that he is collecting a pension while working for the Liberal Party. As any pensioner knows. if you are legally entitled to collect a pension, you do just that and choose to work if you want to...this is simply a red herring. My issue with his appointment was that Ms Jones, knowing her role as Opposition Leader was about to end, had no right to saddle her successor with someone she had chosen. Also, she chose Mr. Parsons without interviewing or screening, according to various reports, and that is just not an acceptable way to do things. If political parties expect the election process to be democratic, they need to "walk the walk" . The Liberal Party badly needs a revival with credible leader, not a saviour, and Mr. Ball may well be that person. However, he must show integrity and leadership,while demonstrating the ability to reach out to the grassroots and other potential members who want to see a real oppsoition emerge.

HBG

Expert Bloggers

Quick question - 03/31/2015

A Corner Brook woman was upset recently when she had her seal skin purse confiscated by customs officials when entering the United States — she was unaware of a U.S. ban on seal product entering that country. Are you aware of the ban?